Smart cameras are to be installed at 70 high-risk level crossings along Belgium's railways this year to improve service quality and safety, network manager Infrabel's CEO, Benoit Gilson, announced on Thursday.
The cameras, which use artificial intelligence, will detect real-time obstacles at crossings. When a person or vehicle stops for an extended period at an open barrier, for example, an alert sounds and a view of the area is displayed within the traffic management centre, Infrabel noted. Immediate action can then be taken to ensure rail traffic safety and prevent accidents.
These cameras will also save precious time as, beyond the human tragedy, collisions can halt traffic for several hours.
The system has been tested for almost a year in Namur and Mortsel, and the results have proven more than satisfactory, according to Gilson. "We have observed around 20 detections per month at each crossing and, importantly, no detection was wrong," the Infrabel CEO said.
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The installation of the cameras forms part of a wide-ranging national action plan to lessen the impact of risky behaviour on traffic. "Our goal is to restore the prestige of rail travel and provide high-quality service. We need to solve this third-party issue," Gilson stressed.
This is also a goal shared by Federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet, who believes that "punctuality will draw passengers to taking the train."
